Did You Know?
You don't need a concealed handgun permit simply to transport a lawfully possessed firearm in your vehicle in North Carolina — but HOW you transport it matters.
The Short Answer
North Carolina law prohibits carrying a concealed pistol or gun “about” your person unless an exception applies. For someone without a concealed handgun permit, keeping a firearm secured in a separate trunk is generally a much clearer method of separating it from the passenger compartment than concealing it somewhere within easy reach of vehicle occupants.
North Carolina firearms-law guidance specifically cautions that in vehicles without a clearly separate trunk — such as SUVs and vans — whether a concealed firearm is within “ready and easy access” of an occupant can become an important factual issue.
What to Remember
- •A separate trunk provides clear separation from the passenger compartment.
- •Secure the firearm so that it is not readily accessible to vehicle occupants.
- •In an SUV, van, or hatchback, use a secure container positioned as remotely from the passenger compartment as practical.
- •Do not assume that hiding a firearm under a seat, beside a seat, in a bag on the back seat, or elsewhere within easy reach is the same as transporting it in a separate trunk.
- •Special rules apply to locations such as schools and certain government property.
The key question isn't only:
“Is the firearm in the car?”
It's also:
“Where is it, and how accessible is it?”
Responsible firearm ownership includes responsible transportation.
Source
- N.C. General Statutes § 14-269 — Carrying Concealed Weapons
- North Carolina Firearms Laws guidance — section on Transporting Weapons / vehicle accessibility, hosted by North Carolina DOJ / North Carolina Justice Academy
- N.C. General Statutes § 14-269.2 — Weapons on educational property
- N.C. General Statutes § 14-269.4 — Weapons on certain State property and in courthouses
Last reviewed: August 27, 2026